In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Aaron Hartman, an integrative and functional medicine physician from Richmond, Virginia, and founder of Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine. He's also the author of UnCURABLE and host of the Made for Health podcast.

Dr Hartman shares the powerful story that changed the trajectory of his career: adopting his daughter Anna, who was exposed to crystal meth in utero, had a stroke before birth, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and was told she would never walk, talk, or see. His refusal to accept "hopeless" prognoses led him into deep research, root-cause medicine, and a lifelong commitment to personalised care.

• Anna's story and why it matters
  • Being advised to place a feeding tube as "standard care," and what happened when the family declined.
  • How a simple missing detail (using the wrong growth chart) nearly led Anna down a path of unnecessary procedures.
  • Anna's progress today: ongoing skill gains year after year, including major improvements in vision and independence.
• How Dr Hartman became an integrative and functional medicine doctor
  • Why "incurable" is often a reflection of system blind spots, not a true end point.
  • His deep dives into functional medicine, functional neurology, peptides, and "lipid medicine," and how continuous learning shaped his approach.
• Why many chronic illnesses get missed
  • Common overlooked root causes he sees in clinic: mold-related illness, chronic infections (like Lyme), hidden autoimmune issues, hypermobility patterns, nervous system dysregulation, and basic nutrient deficiencies.
• A practical framework: foundations first
  • Dr Hartman's emphasis on starting with basics such as sleep, stress, gut health, nutrition, and environmental exposures before chasing "advanced" interventions.
• Mold and environmental illness
  • Removing exposure as step one.
  • Supporting detox pathways with binders and targeted nutrition strategies (always individualised and supervised).
• Anti-ageing = lowering inflammation
  • The concept of "inflammaging" and why food quality, sleep, and stress regulation are the real foundations of longevity.
• What he would change about modern healthcare
  • Why the system's incentives and regulations often prevent clinicians from practising deep, personalised medicine.

Dr Hartman opened Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine to provide advanced integrative and functional medicine evaluation and treatment, including complex chronic illness care. His book UnCURABLE shares his family's story and offers a roadmap for patients who have been told "nothing can be done."

• Main hub (clinic, media, podcast): **https://aaronhartmanmd.com/**
• Clinic: Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine: **https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/**
• Book: UnCURABLE: **https://uncurablebook.com/**
• Podcast: Made for Health: **https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/made-for-health/id1785446558**
• Instagram: **https://www.instagram.com/aaronhartmanmd/**

Reminder: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please speak with your healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.